A July Visit

There’s something about July that screams “you should visit your daughter!” to my parents, and so sure enough, on July the 4^th, guess who showed up at my little cottage?

I treated my father to some milk straight from my farmer’s cow, 

and then dragged him and his lady over to Penn State festivities, 

along with these darling friends.  

We took in the atmosphere,

had ourselves a bit of glee over the 

plentifully available and tasty treats,

[well, I did anyway...]

and then settled in

 for fireworks extraordinaire. 

And, despite the un-July-ish chill in the air

[and the very rude Pennsylvanians we encountered on our way out of the parking lot], we had ourselves a lovely time.

The following day found us dwelling pond-side a bit,

relaxing in the sunshine and digging through the stuff of life in conversation good and deep.  

Then, we headed off to Amish country,

for horses

[hello lovely], 

produce,

and antiques,

before returning home for a pulled pork 

pre-birthday celebration for yours truly. 

[Wait, is it my birthday soon?  Oh my, well yes, it is!]

We returned to the cottage for treats 

and games,

for which my winning streak was a little under-appreciated. 

[Wait, did I get zero points again? Hmmmm, it appears I did!]

We closed our time out with church the next morning, followed by a delicious pond-side lunch [if I do say so myself…], and called it another July visit worth making, over quickly but full of good.

Can't wait to see what next July brings!

Cottage Projects

Old friends, played late into the night

I've never coached an opera before...studyin'

Braziling [why does this feel like a mini dissertation season?]

I do my best work at 4 am, it's true.

The Word Is:

 summer

refresh

Piano Camp Rules

Of course, we all know that Piano Camp rules, as in, it changes lives and the children are never the same, etc. and etc.  But, there are certain rules that keep this machine running year after year.  Here, a few of them:

Rule #1: Do not kill anyone, including yourself.  [We find that this one keeps us invited back from year to year.]

Rule #2: The words “happy” and “sad” in reference to musical moods and how we shall play our pieces are banned, because they are boring.

Rule #3:  The word “Frozen” is banned, unless you are genuinely frozen. 

Rule #4: All songs associated with the word “Frozen”, are, yes, banned.  [Particularly if your name is Dr. Lauren.]

Rule #8: Maintain your personal personal-space. [For goodness sake man, personal space!]

Rule #82, heard from Camper E, in all seriousness: Don’t go the bathroom, unless you’re in a bathroom.  [Wise, Camper E, wise.  You are allowed to come back.]

Rule #132, as heard from some Ohio-an baby campers:  Don’t stick anything in your stickiwicket.  [As of Recital Day, we still had no idea what this meant.  But, we liked it.]

Rule #140: Eat, very, very well.

Rule # 200: Help the sweet little children get to know each other.  

Rule # 201: And then be prepared for when they do.

Rule # 208:  Encourage peace treaties.

Rule # 209: Encourage peace treaties, even when you know you have stolen one of the peaceful party’s mascot in the name of the other…

Rule #210: Encourage peace treaties, even when you know you are lying.

Rule # 283: Remember that you are really at Piano Camp to teach them about the piano.

Rule # 285: Do what you have to do to get the sound that you want.

Rule #286: Teach them important historical information, such as the fact that Beethoven’s official lyrics for Op. 49 No. 2 really do involve skunks and cheese. 

Rule # 285, Addendum: Do what you have to do to get the sound that you want, even if it involves lying.

Rule # 287: Challenges are healthy, but do not reduce the children to tears, even when you are all frustrated by a seemingly impossible task.

Rule # 288: They are counting on you to smile.

Rule #292: You are in it, together.  [Remember that it was your idea, not theirs, to learn a duet in 4 days...]

Rule # 293: Do not give up if you know that they can do it, and that they need to know it too.

Rule # 295: Provide them with memorable experiences.

Rule # 300: But, be aware that middle schoolers have very strong opinions about things like modern art.  Have very thick skin.

Rule #301: And, show them very interesting video.  A lot of it.

Rule # 312: It is ok to feel like you have said the same thing 400 times.

Rule # 313: Because you have said the same thing 400 times.

Rule #314: Remember that at the end of the day, they really are quite cute.

Rule # 315: Give them creative license…

Rule #316: They’ll do the darndest things.

Rule # 317: But if they are making you a little bit crazy, don’t freak out.  Assign them a piece they believe to be impossible instead, and pretend you are a Russian with very poor English skills when they whine.

Rule # 318: And then, go away, and get pedicures.

Rule #319: Find the nearest river, and eat lunch by it.

Rule # 319a: Alternatively, find the nearest creek, and listen to its soothing roar.

Rule # 320: If someone convinces you that taking a canoe out on said creek will be very peaceful, and assures you that you will not tip, do not trust them, especially if her name is Mrs. Noll.

Rule # 321: Do not wear flip flops to canoe in a rapid-y creek.

Rule # 325: Play games.

Rule #326: But watch your back.

Unspoken Rule # 327: A win in Ohio marks you for ruthless defeat in Harrisburg…

Rule #328: Include the children in the game playing.

Rule # 329: Please, ALWAYS say “What. Is.”

Rule #382: If you have been good friends for many years, and claim to share a brain, sit in the exact same way without even knowing it.

Rule # 383: Be grateful that your friendship is so much more interesting than repetitive and endless laps around a pond [as lovely as that may be…].

Rule # 384: And really, at the end of the day, it’s all about your friendship anyway.

Rule # 385: Well, that, and changing the world.

Piano Camp Rules,

every time.